Cover for books, binders, or similar articles



Aug 22, 19335c c. D. TRussELl.

COVER FOR BOOKS, BINDERS, OR SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed May 20. 1932 INVENTOR BY @Aam/1,

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 22, 1933 UNITED STATES COVER FOR BOOKS, BINDERS, OR SIDIILAR ARTICLES Clarence D. Trussell, Poughkeepsie, N. )Lassigncr to Trussell Manufacturing Company,

Poughkeepsie, N. Y.,

York

a Corporation of New Application May 20, 1932. `Serial N o. :612,411

' ,sclaims (01.129524) This invention relates to improvements in the covers of books, binders, or similar articles, and is especially adapted for use as a cover of a looseleafV binder of the ring type.

VIt is an object oi the invention to provide a cover which maybe rmly securedbetween a relatively rigid binding plate and the article onrwhich `the cover is to be used, and at the same time cover, or partly cover, the edges of the binding plate in such manner as to produce an attractive nish and prevent the plate from scratching a desk, table, or other article oi furniture on which the binder is used.

VIn the-drawing illustrating preferred formsY of the invention kFigure 1 is an end view of a loose-leaf binder of the ring type having the invention embodied therein, portions of the covers being indicated as having been cut ofi and one cover being represented in open position-andl the other in closed position.

Fig. 2 isa-perspective View of a fragmentary Y portion of the binder illustrated in Fig; 1.

Fig. l3 is an end view corresponding with that 4D FigfS is a Vfragmentary edge view through the portion of a binder at ,which the side portion ci the cover joins the back portion, and illustrates a modified manner of weakening the cover material along the Zone relied upon to serve as a hinge-like connection.

As represented inFigs'. l and 2 the invention comprises a cover having `the usual side portions 20 and back portion 21, the latterbeing iirmly bound between an outer bindingelement or back plate 22 and the rear suriaceioi the back plate oi a leaf-attaching structure 23 consisting of kthe usual leaf-engaging rings 24 .mounted in a-supporting structure 25.

Leaf-attaching mechanisms of the-,above-de- Y scribed character are well known in the prior'l art of Fig. 1, the invention being embodied in modiand do not as such constitute any vpart of Ythe invention herein to be claimed.

The cover construction comprising the sideele- -ments 20 andback element 21 is unique in that it is internally grooved as at 26 to provide a-pair of externally-disposed ridges 27 alongthe Zones at which the sides 20 join the back 21. The bindingplate 22 is Ysetin the recess between the ridges v2'? and is of a width substantially equal tothe width of the recess so that the edges of the plate 22 are closely iianked by the ridges.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the cover is represented as comprising a singlecpiece of material. It shouldbe of atough, flexible character of a consistency such as .to receive and hold an impression in order that, after it vvhas'been grooved to formthe channeled portions at-26, the resultingY ridges 27 willmaintain theirrfcrms throughout the natural lifeof the binder. Cover stock oi such character made of iibrous material and rubber composition and having an attractive appearance resembling leather is readily obtainable as a commercial product,

The binding plate v22 Vmay be constructed of hard rubber, metal, or other appropriate mate-- rial, and the thickness of the binding plate may be sc apportioned to the dimensions of the ridges 27 that the edges oi the plate will be Well protected so that the resulting structure will present a very neat and attractive appearance and the edges prevented from coming into contact with the hands ofthe user of the binder or with articles of furniture which might be marred or scratched thereby.

The metal structure may be'secured to the binding plate by fastenings of any appropriate character, such, for example, as by meansv of rivets 28 passing through the binding plate,- cover and the back'of the metal structure, 4and headed at the opposite ends. 'The louter ends 29 of the rivets may be' Anicely rounded,Y polished and countersunk so as to gradually merge into the surface of the surrounding portion of the plate.

By a proper selectionv of the material of the binding plate 22 it maybe caused to have either a polished or a dull iinishA adapted to harmonize with the material oi the cover.

The thickness and character of the material of which the cover is constructed may be such that the channeled portions 26 may beY suliciently iiexible to serve` as hinge-like joints between the side portions 20 of the cover and the back portion` 21;

*' Ihe modiiication.l illustrated in Fig. 3 diiers .ridges v27.

from the one illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 only in that additional grooved portions 30 are provided along the outer margins of the channeled portions 26 to increase the flexibility of the hingelike "oints between the cover portions 20 and the back portion 21.'

In Fig. 4 the invention has been illustrated as applied to a ring type binder having a cover of the well-known built-up construction, and in Figs. 5 and 6 are represented fragmentary sectional views of layers of material which have been assembled together and partly prepared for use as a cover of the character of the one illus-- trated in Fig. 4.

The construction represented in Fig. 5 comprises a layer of leather, cloth, paper, or other appropriate covering material 31, a layer of suitable lining material 32, interleaved boards or layers of stiffening material 33 to form the body portions of the sides of the cover, a layer of reinforcing material 34, and an inserted layer 35 of a tough, flexible material adapted to receive and hold an impression, this layer being of a width such as to extend to the margins of the back portion of the cover and serve as a means .of maintaining the form of internal grooves or channels impressed into the cover as a means of producing external ridges along the zones where the side portions of the cover are hinged to the back portion.

In Fig. 6 the laminated structure of Fig. 5 is indicated after the channels 26 have been irnpressed in the inner surface of the cover construction to produce the ridges 27. The form of these ridges will be retained by the grooved or channeledportions 36 at the opposite margins of the'layer 35 ofthe back portion of the cover construction.

In Fig. 4 the cover construction of Figs. 5 and 6 is represented in association with a ring structure 23, 24,125, and a binding plate 22. The cover is indicated as being clamped betweenV the ring structure and the binding plate by means of a rivet 28. In this form of the invention the hingelike connection at each side between the side elements 2Q of the cover construction and the back element 21' may comprise portions of the covering material 31, lining material 32, and reinforcing material 34 intermediate the slightlyspaced edges of the boards 33 and inserted back element 35.

It will be apparent that the built-up construction may be modied as to the character, quality, arrangement and number of layers used,`but it is important that it include in the back portion at least one layer of material adapted to receive and hold the impressions relied upon to produce the In this respect the material of the layer 35 of the built-up cover construction of Figs. 4, 5 and 6 must conform with that used in making the one-piece cover construction 20, 21 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Various materials adapted to serve the purpose may be found on the market. One very satisfactory material is produced by the United States Rubber Company and sold under the trade name Laiiex.

In Fig. 8 is illustrated a portion of a binder similar to the one illustrated in Fig. 1, of which the cover 20, 21 diifers from `the covers previously disclosed in that Zones or" weakness are produced along the outer margins of the groovedY portions of the cover which form the beads 27 by cutting or otherwise producing V-shaped grooves 30 in the inner surface of, the cover material. These grooves 30 of V-shaped form in cross-section reaaefie weaken the cover material along the outer margins of the beaded portions so that the cover may bend along these grooved zones and relieve the beaded portions from a bending action to which they would be subjected when the covers are opened and closed, if zones of weakness formed by grooving or otherwise were not provided.

In Figs. 4 and 7 is illustrated an ancillary feature of the invention which may be used as a means of preventing the covers from being dented or otherwise distorted at the points where they come in contact with the sides of the leaf-attaching rings 24.I This feature of the inventionmay comprise strips of leather, relatively hard rubber, or other appropriate material 37, which may be secured to the inner surfaces of the cover sides in any suitable manner as by means of rivets 38. It is not essential that the strips 37 be continuous; all that is important is that they are so positioned, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 7, as to come in contact with the rings and distribute the pressure over appreciable portions of the cover sides.

The invention is not intended to be limited to external ridges forming a recess in the back por-I" tion, an outer back plate of stiff material set in and approximately lling the space between said ridges, and fastening means clamping said -plate to the back portion of the cover.

2. A cover, as defined by claim 1, of which thev cross-sectional form of the bottom of the recess in the back portion is convex and of which the outer back plate is curved about a longitudinal axis to conform with the curvature of the back portion.

3. A cover for a book, binder, or similar article, comprising a back portion and side portions, the cover being internally channeled along opposite sides of the back portion to produce a pair of externally-disposed ridges, a binding element stilfer than the cover material, set in the space between said ridges and having its opposite margins flanked thereby, and means for clamping the back portion of the cover between said binding element and the article on which the cover is used.'

4. A cover, as defined by claim 3, of which the channeled portions whichY produce the ridges along the sides of the binding element, serve as exible hinge-like joints between the back and side portions.

5. A cover, as defined by claim 3, having weakened portions parallel with the channeled portions, to form flexible hinge-like joints about which the side portions may be bent.

6. A loose-leaf binder having a cover which consists of a single piece of tough, flexible material of a consistency such as to receive and hold an impression, said cover being internally channeled along narrow zones lying between its back portion and its side portions, to form al pair of external ridges along the margins of the back portion, a loose-leaf, binding mechanism having a back plate with a convex outer surface to seat against the inner surface of the back portion, a binding plate with a concave inner surface to seat against the outer surface of the back portion and of a Width approximately equal to said back portion, and means for securing the cover between said plates with the edges of the binding plate flanked by said ridges.

7. A built-up cover for a book, binder, or similar article, comprising covering, lining, stiffening and reinforcing materials, said cover being internally channeled along the Zones lying between its back portion and its side portions to form a pair of external ridges along the margins of the back portion, a binding element stiier than the cover material. set in and approximately lling the recess between said ridges. and fastening 

